Plyometrics in Rehabilitation: Need to Do, Not “Nice to Do” Editorial

Abstract

Traditional rehabilitation emphasizes restoring range of motion, isolated strength, and basic functional tasks, yet these approaches do not fully address the mechanisms driving functional decline with aging. Sarcopenia reflects neurological deterioration as much as muscle loss, with motor unit remodeling, impaired neuromuscular transmission, and selective fast-twitch fiber atrophy reducing the ability to generate force rapidly, a critical determinant of balance recovery and fall prevention. Rehabilitation focused solely on slow strength development therefore overlooks a primary contributor to loss of independence. Plyometric training provides a targeted stimulus for rapid motor unit recruitment, neural drive, coordination, and high-velocity force production, while also promoting favorable adaptations in bone density, body composition, and metabolic health. Because daily movements inherently require rapid force expression, integrating appropriately scaled plyometric exposure into rehabilitation may be essential for preserving functional independence across the lifespan.